Both Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile will put into effect slower throttling speeds for customers that exceed their 2.5GB monthly high-speed data allotment.

Phone News published a statement sent out to customers of the two Sprint MVNOs stating that users who surpass 2.5GB of combined 3G/4G data will be throttled back to 2G service for the remainder of their monthly plan.

A Sprint spokesperson confirmed to Wireless Week that the policy change would be going into effect May 16, indicating a small percentage of Boost and Virgin customers exceed the 2.5GB high-speed limit and all customers will still be allowed to top up early to restore 3G/4G data speeds.

“This change comes about because of the enormous data usage driven by the increasingly sophisticated smartphones we make available, and the more extensive uses customers are finding for these devices,” a Sprint spokesperson said in a statement. "We want to be able to serve customers who use our unlimited plans for their daily activity."

As the report points out, Sprint defines 2G speed as less than the 256Kbps speed Boost and Virgin customers currently experience once high-speed data allowances are exceeded.